Four decades have passed since the iconic British pop duo Wham! performed their farewell concert, ‘The Final,’ at Wembley Stadium on June 28, 1986. The sold-out event, attended by 72,000 fans, featured special guests like Elton John and Simon Le Bon, marking the end of an era for friends George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley, along with backing singers Pepsi and Shirlie. Since that momentous day, the lives of these artists have taken diverse paths, filled with significant achievements, personal challenges, and profound losses.
Andrew Ridgeley’s Post-Wham! Journey
Following Wham!’s dissolution, Andrew Ridgeley pursued a different direction, stepping away from the intense spotlight of pop music. He initially relocated to Monaco, attempting a brief career in Formula Three racing, before trying his hand at acting in Los Angeles. Returning to England in 1990, Ridgeley released his sole solo album, ‘Son of Albert.’ While not a commercial success, he later reflected on his aspirations, telling The Big Issue, “I didn’t have the voice to compete with George, but that was fine. Being in a band was the full extent of my aspirations at 16 and I had realised it.”
Ridgeley briefly shared the stage with George Michael at Rock in Rio in 1991. Despite discussions about a potential reunion over the years, a formal comeback never materialized. In 2019, he published his bestselling memoir, ‘Wham! George & Me,’ and made a cameo appearance in the film ‘Last Christmas.’ For the past three decades, Ridgeley has maintained a relatively private life in Wadebridge, Cornwall. He has spoken about finding relief from the pressures of fame, telling the LA Times, “I was unprepared for the consequences of fame. I resented deeply the intrusion into my personal life, being chased from restaurant to restaurant. To step away from that was a welcome sort of relief.” He remains engaged in local activities, enjoying golf and surfing.
Following George Michael’s death in 2016, Ridgeley delivered a heartfelt tribute at the 2017 Brit Awards, acknowledging the significant void left by his bandmate’s passing. “When I found out [George had died] it was a moment of disbelief,” he shared. “I think that’s a very good way of putting it. I think anyone finds it difficult to comprehend when someone they’re so close to passes away, it’s an inconceivable moment. It leaves a void in your life.” He expressed a longing for simpler times, stating, “If I could go back to any time in my life, it would probably be when Yog, Shirlie, and me were knocking around together as a very, very happy and affectionate trio.”
Pepsi DeMacque: From Duo Success to Island Life
Helen ‘Pepsi’ DeMacque joined Wham! as a backing singer and dancer in 1983. After the band’s split, she formed the successful duo Pepsi & Shirlie with Shirlie Holliman. The pair achieved two UK Top 10 hits with songs like ‘Heartache’ and ‘Goodbye Stranger.’ DeMacque recalled the encouragement from Holliman, telling The Guardian, “Shirlie had to persuade me we could make it as a duo. She said we should grab the opportunity. And she was right.” She noted George Michael’s support, mentioning he treated them to dinner after his duet with Aretha Franklin kept their first single from reaching number one.
Following a hiatus for the duo in 1989, DeMacque moved to New Zealand. There, she continued her musical endeavors, collaborating with electronic artist 50Hz and performing with composer Rhian Sheehan. She also found success in musical theatre, appearing in productions like ‘The Josephine Baker Story’ and a West End revival of ‘Hair.’ After her first marriage ended, she relocated to St. Lucia, the Caribbean island where her parents had emigrated. Today, she and her husband, James Crockett, run a charter sailing business called Jus Sail. In January 2025, she published her debut novel, ‘Island Song,’ inspired by her family’s heritage. DeMacque remains very close to Shirlie Holliman, and they released a joint autobiography, ‘Pepsi & Shirlie: It’s All Black and White,’ in 2021.
Reflecting on their enduring friendship, DeMacque told The Guardian about the difficult period after George Michael’s death: “When George died, Shirlie couldn’t make the call to me as she was too upset, so [her daughter] Harley did. It was a hard, hard time for all of us.” She added that their reunion at his tribute concert brought a mix of emotions, eventually leading to their characteristic playful banter that softens the grief. “To this day, I still tell her to shut up when she’s being bossy, but it’s all done with total affection. Besides, I love seeing her do her thing, always busy, meddling, huffing and puffing. She will always be a sister to me.”
Shirlie Holliman’s Family Life and Resilience
Shirlie Holliman’s entry into the music industry was serendipitous. Initially training as a horse riding instructor, a bout of hay fever led her to reconsider her path. Her then-boyfriend, Andrew Ridgeley, invited her to dance at a gig with George Michael, a moment that altered her life’s trajectory. While she enjoyed success with Pepsi & Shirlie, the demanding touring schedule proved challenging to balance with her personal life.
Holliman began dating Martin Kemp, bassist for Spandau Ballet, with George Michael reportedly playing a role in their introduction. Shirlie and Martin married in St. Lucia in 1988 and went on to have two children: Harley Moon Kemp and Roman Kemp, who has become a prominent radio personality. After the birth of her daughter, Holliman made the decision to step back from performing regularly. She explained to The Guardian, “After I got pregnant with Harley, I thought: ‘I can’t do this any more.’ It would have been great if I’d stuck with it and earned more money, but it wouldn’t have been a substitute for a happy childhood.”
The family faced a significant challenge in 1995 when Martin Kemp was diagnosed with two brain tumors. Shirlie put her career on hold to care for him through numerous operations and radiotherapy treatments, which resulted in long-term epilepsy and dyslexia for Martin. He later discussed the impact of his condition on his son’s podcast, noting that his dyslexia was tied to the physical changes in his brain. The financial strain of this period led to Shirlie being declared bankrupt in September 1996. Subsequently, she worked behind the scenes at George Michael’s record label, Aegean Records.
In recent years, Shirlie Holliman has returned to public life alongside her family. She and Martin released a joint album in 2019 and a shared memoir in 2020. She also appeared in the BBC documentary ‘Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency,’ supporting her son’s discussions about mental health. In early 2024, she and Martin participated as contestants on ‘The Masked Singer,’ performing as ‘Cat & Mouse.’
George Michael’s Solo Stardom and Personal Struggles
Following Wham!’s disbandment, George Michael achieved immense success as a solo artist, dominating charts and earning numerous awards. His career, however, was also marked by significant personal challenges and highly publicized struggles with addiction.
Michael’s solo debut in 1987, the duet ‘I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)’ with Aretha Franklin, was a chart-topping hit. This was swiftly followed by his monumental debut album, ‘Faith,’ which sold over 25 million copies worldwide and produced four number-one singles, establishing him as a global icon. The extensive 1988 world tour, however, left him exhausted and battling depression. Seeking to escape the intense pressure of the spotlight, he controversially chose not to promote his 1990 follow-up album, ‘Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1,’ even opting out of appearing in his own music videos.
A protracted legal dispute with his record label, Sony, began in 1992. Michael contended that he lacked creative control and was treated as mere “software.” He ultimately lost the case, which stalled his career for five years and diminished his momentum in the United States. This period coincided with profound personal grief. In 1993, his partner, Anselmo Feleppa, died from an AIDS-related brain hemorrhage. Michael had met Feleppa in Rio de Janeiro in 1991, but had not yet publicly come out as gay. His 1996 hit song, ‘Jesus to a Child,’ was released as a tribute to Feleppa. Further heartbreak followed in 1997 with the death of his mother, which plunged him into another deep depression. He later revealed to GQ magazine that he had considered suicide during this dark time, crediting his then-partner, Kenny Goss, with saving his life.
In April 1998, Michael gained international attention following an arrest in a Beverly Hills public restroom. This incident prompted him to publicly confirm his sexuality and his relationship with Kenny Goss. Despite ongoing scrutiny of his personal life, including a prison sentence in 2010 for drug-driving and a near-fatal bout of pneumonia in 2011, Michael continued to perform. He had the distinction of being the first artist to perform at the reopened Wembley Stadium in 2006. His final live performance occurred at Earls Court in October 2012.
Tragically, George Michael passed away in his sleep on Christmas Day 2016. A senior coroner later attributed his death to natural causes, specifically dilated cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, and fatty liver disease. He was buried at Highgate Cemetery in North London, alongside his mother. His sister, Melanie, who passed away three years later on the same date, is interred nearby.
Legacy and Enduring Connections
The members of Wham! have navigated vastly different paths since their explosive rise and abrupt end. Andrew Ridgeley found peace away from the glare of fame, focusing on personal pursuits and reflecting on his past. Pepsi DeMacque built a new life and career in St. Lucia, blending her artistic talents with entrepreneurship, while maintaining a strong bond with her former bandmate. Shirlie Holliman prioritized family, demonstrating remarkable resilience through personal and financial hardships, and has recently re-engaged with the entertainment world alongside her husband and son. George Michael, despite his immense solo success, battled personal demons and public scrutiny, leaving behind a rich musical legacy and a poignant story of triumph and tragedy.
